KINGSLAND, Ga. -- Georgia's Division of Motor Vehicle Safety will reopen its satellite drivers' license office in Kingsland later this month, according to state Rep. Cecily Hill, R-St. Marys.

Hill says that Gov. Sonny Perdue's office has confirmed that the office -- closed in August in a cost-cutting move -- and four other rural-county offices will reopen.

Hill indicated that the office, located in the Kingsland City Hall annex, would probably be open two days a week.

Citing budget problems, the DMVS ended a longstanding practice of sending traveling license examiners to counties -- including Camden -- that do not have permanent drivers' license facilities. They said they needed those examiners to cover staffing shortages at the state's 56 permanent drivers' license facilities -- the closest of which are in Brunswick and Waycross.

Camden residents complained that they were having to drive over 30 miles to apply for a first license or take a driving test -- things that cannot be done through the mail or online. After closing the Kingsland office, the increase in visits to the DMVS office in Brunswick put a strain on that facility, creating waits of several weeks for some services.

Kingsland City Council has offered to pay for dedicated phone lines and increase donated office in the Kingsland City Hall Annex for the DMVS to continue issuing and renewing drivers' licenses.

Hill said the office in Kingsland would open at least two days a week, but it could be more.

But Hill and fellow south Georgia lawmaker, Rep. Penny Houston, D-Nashville, were working to return the satellite services to the smaller counties.

Houston cited a provision in the law stating that driver's license examinations for motorists "shall be given at least once each month in each county of the state."